17 Weeks and Happy Halloween!

Well, my costume wasn't what I would have liked for this year, but it was still fun.  Chris looked just as sleazy as last year, maybe more, and we had fun at a party last night.  Here are this week's highlights:

Size of baby: onion (that doesn't sound cute at all.... I'm at least calling it a sweet red onion)
Maternity clothes: Still just in a mix of maternity clothes, leggings, and long tunic sweaters... I don't know if I will ever want anything but maternity jeans, aka the most comfortable jeans EVER
Movement: I've felt some questionable pops here and there, but nothing major.  Still will be a while before major movement
Food cravings: I'm really into grapes this week
What I miss: working out as hard as I used to.... it feels strange when a moderate 30-45 minutes on the elliptical leaves me needing a 1-2 hour nap.  And I monitor my heart rate pretty closely when I'm working out, and I can't believe how quickly it rises now
Sleep: still sleeping really well
Symptoms: other than the usual hormones, pretty symptom-free week - no complaints here
Best moment this week: FINALLY hearing Olive's heartbeat on Friday!  Such a relief!
What I am looking forward to: so many things.... the anatomy scan, the cruise, Christmas....

This week went by so quickly.  All I could think about was getting to Friday, which was our monthly appointment, and the one when we SHOULD be able to hear a heartbeat with the doppler.  On the way to the appointment, the doctor's office called me to say that my OB had to leave to deliver a baby, and could we reschedule for Monday..... uh, NO!  They told me I could still see the nurse, but I spent the last 30 minutes of  the trip being upset, wondering if an attempt at hearing the heartbeat would even be made.  Chris was trying to cheer me up, and I was having none of it.  I had felt so at ease with the day, and now it seemed like there might be a hitch.  I am a creature of habit, disliking changes to routine, but especially get upset now when plans around our unborn baby are changed.  Luckily when we got in, the nurse tried and that whoosh, whoosh, whoosh popped up right away, and she showed me the digital display of the beats per minute - a perfect 143 average!  I was so relieved!  There is a little heartbeat in my belly!  I actually can't believe I didn't just start crying, because that's all I wanted to do as we headed in.  I told Chris that I wish that men could be pregnant, even just for a day, so that they could understand what its like to know that this little life is growing in you, and how hard it is not to be consumed by thoughts of this little boy or girl at all times of the day.

Otherwise, our appointment was the usual - pee in a cup, check my weight.... which I did not look at.  They always check your weight right before your blood pressure.  Last time by blood pressure was 132 after seeing my weight gain!  I told the nurse I didn't want to look, and this time my blood pressure was a very good 102!  What a difference.  According to the gym scale, I'm only up about 1 or 2 pounds from my 12-week appointment, so I can handle that.  And at this point, given that I get to the gym for about an hour 4-5 days a week, and I'm eating pretty well, I'm *trying* not to let the weight gain get to me too much.  I know more is coming.

Yesterday was the annual Halloween party that our friends throw, and we were excited.  Chris had gotten his Vanilla Ice costume not long ago, and while I was less than thrilled with covering up so much compared to last year, it was still fun getting dressed up, though the way my costume sat, it made me look a good few more months along.  I suppose it worked out though because before we left for the party, it was snowing.... SNOWING!!!!  I hadn't even seen it, but Chris told me not to look outside, which definitely told me the snow was coming down.  AND IT'S STILL ON THE GROUND.  Really, Canada?  You couldn't even let us make it to December like last year??  You had to bring the snow in OCTOBER?  Thanks.  Oh well.... I'll admit that the first snow does look pretty, but it just reminds me of the bitter cold that is coming.

Anyway, off the snow rant.... when we got to the party, one of the Canadians was wearing the same costume as Chris!  We couldn't believe it, but at least Chris had the sense to wear an actual shirt with his, and not the MESH shirt that the other guy wore.... oy.  The best costume was definitely our friend Kevin (the host), who was dressed as a school girl, complete with skirt, stockings, heels, pigtails, and all..... definitely the most disturbing "school girl" anyone has ever seen!  Chris won a bottle of rum and a rather inappropriate novelty lollipop for his costume, but gave both away as 1) not a lot of alcohol is consumed in our house these days and 2) he was having nothing to do with that lollipop.  I have no problem admitting that the party was definitely less entertaining for me this year without a drop of alcohol, but it showed me just how ridiculous some of the people we see there can be, so that part was entertaining.  Plus I woke up feeling great this morning! ..... unlike last year, haha.  I just hung out where any pregnant lady would hang out - by the food!

This week will probably be pretty uneventful.  And then it will be time for the anatomy scan, and then the cruise!  I can't wait to see our little baby again!  When we were grocery shopping on Friday, I picked up an avocado and an onion and held them next to my belly and said to Chris, this is what Olive was (avocado) and on Sunday, this is what s/he will be (onion).  Such a far cry from apple seed size when we found out.  It is amazing, and nothing short of miraculous.  I still can barely fathom how this happens (you know, aside from the whole "how babies are made" explanation), how God sees fit to give us the most wonderful miracle of our lives..... though I feel like He must watch me and many times want to grab me by the shoulders, give me a little shake, and say, "Child why do you let yourself forget that I still have everything under control?  Do you not believe me?"  I know God is not a "I-told-you-so" God, but He must at least want to say that to me all the time when I get scared!

I'll post a non-Halloween bump picture on Wednesday some time.  When I look at my bare belly, its definitely coming out!

On a random note, I'm currently watching "Monster-in-Law", and would just like to say that I am so thankful that no one in our family is like crazy Jane Fonda's character..... at least not that I've seen yet! :-)

I *think* I'm popping out a bit now.... maybe?

I will say that my belly is definitely bigger in the mornings than it used to be.  It used to be that by the end of the day I looked HUGE with all the bloat accumulation.... I think I stay a bit more stable now, and I wake up with the same belly that I went to bed with, instead of the bloat being gone by morning.  You know what else is funny?  I told Chris yesterday that I definitely need a new gym shirt - all my old shirts are super form-fitting.  Around the wedding time frame, the one I've been wearing lately was even a little loose... now it kind of rides up, especially when I start lifting with the free weights.... not really cute when that happens!  I'm sure the few people who I see in the gym at 7:30 in the morning are thinking, wow, that girl needs to cover up that chub!  Haha, it's what I would be thinking about someone else!

Also, this just in.... I might have felt something today.... it felt just like what others girls have said - like popcorn very low in your belly.  I felt it 4 distinct times at knitting today.  It was the strangest sensation.... it just didn't feel like normal tummy rumbles of other sorts.  It could have been nothing, but it just felt like such distinct little thumps from the inside.... so maybe or maybe not, but it definitely reminds me that Olive is really in there!

16 Weeks and a Great Trip!

We just got back from our New Jersey / New York trip last night, which is why I'm a day late on posting... I'll start with the baby highlights and then tell you all about our trip!

Size of baby: avocado (I know it sounds weird, tell it to the baby tracker!)
Maternity clothes: Still just in a mix of maternity clothes, leggings, and long tunic sweaters
Movement: I don't know if they were "flutters" or not, but 2 times I have felt a little "pop" from the inside, like a pop that tickled... could be a flutter, could be nothing, but so far that's it
Food cravings: pickles!  Yes, I know how cliche that is, but yum!
What I miss: not really anything this week
Sleep: even on the trip, I slept surprisingly well!  At least for now, no pregnancy insomnia
Symptoms: really nothing.... I can't complain
Best moment this week: seeing a small part of NYC - it was amazing!
What I am looking forward to: Halloween!

On Wednesday night, we dropped Bailie off at her "vacation home" for while we would be gone.  A good friend of her old foster mom Nadine kept her for us, and it was so great!  She has a big yard, a shepherd and a husky, and Bailie was running around with both of them when we snuck away.  I didn't have to worry about her at all, and she nearly knocked me over jumping and licking me when we picked her up last night.

For our trip, the main highlight was going to the Navy / Notre Game on Saturday (for everyone else, the main highlight for ME was going to NYC!), but we drove down on Thursday so that we could go see the Statue of Liberty on Friday.  It was VERY windy that day, which made it feel so cold, but it was really fun to see.  You take a ferry from Liberty Park in New Jersey over to the statue, and also to Ellis Island (which we did not have time to go to).  We didn't have tickets to go up into the crown, but we were able to go up to the pedestal, which was quite a view.

These are pictures taken from Liberty Park, before you get on the ferry.  The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building are in the background:

The first 2 pictures here were taken from the ferry:

These are from the base, before you head up to the pedestal (which by the way, the elevator wasn't working, so that was 156 steps, which would not have been anything to me 4 months ago, but I was definitely feeling those steps by about 2/3 of the way up):

Here are some pictures from way up at the pedestal with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background:

We finished up with seeing the Statue of Liberty late in the afternoon, and then headed to the other hotel we would be staying at.  On our way, we stopped at Costco to pick up treats for tailgating on Saturday.... plus I was really getting hungry, so it was Costco to the rescue again!  Best hot dogs in the WORLD!  Yum!  After checking into our hotel, we went to dinner and then turned in.

On Saturday, we got to the stadium a little after 10.  The great thing about where we were staying is that there is a bus stop at a Marriott right across from the Holiday Inn.  You catch a bus there that takes you to the stadium for $1.50 - way better than driving there and paying $25/car to park.  We found our group, had some food, and then went inside for the game.  Now, pretty much everyone knows that football is not on my list of favorite things, but I have always said that while I am not a big sports fan, I really enjoy actually going to games.  Watching them on TV?  Ugh.  So boring.  Being there?  Super fun!  Here's a few pictures we took:

Then came the really fun part for me on Saturday night.  We took a bus downtown to Times Square (again, right across from the hotel, super convenient).  It drops you off at the NYC Port Authority Terminal, which is right in the middle of Times Square.  We went with some Canadian friends, Josh and Annie, who had gone in the night before for a little while.  Before actually seeing Times Square though, we took the subway a few stops away because all I wanted to do was go to Serendipity (the exact same place as in the movie with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsdale) and have frozen hot chocolate.  Since it was a 2-hour wait, we walked down to 5th Avenue too see all the shops - Barneys, Prada, Fendi, Dooney & Bourke..... if only money were no object!  It was fun to see all of these places, and especially funny to see the LINE to get inside Abercrombie & Fitch... really people?  Its not like NYC is the only location of that super over-priced pretty boy store.  It was also amusing to see all the illegitimate street vendors selling their knockoff handbags right on the ground on the sidewalk.  We walked quite a while - about 16 blocks one way - and ended up also seeing Radio City Music Hall and the NBC building.  Oh!  I forgot to add that we also found Heaven in NYC - the biggest candy store I've ever been in... it was crazy!  Even crazier was the $18 lollipop that Chris found.  $18!!!

After all this, we headed back to Serendipity and got right in to our table.  We had dinner and dessert there, and the frozen hot chocolate, both original and with peanut butter, is AWESOME:

 

I will say this about Serendipity - it was great to go there and experience, our food was great, the dessert was great, but the service is extremely slow and nearly terrible.  Even for a party of 4, they refused to separate the check for us, and they will try to take your drink before you're finished with it and then charge you for another refill.... but I'm glad we went.  It was fun, and even with the desserts being $9 each, 2 people could eat dinner and have dessert there, with tip, for about $60, so not bad for NYC.

After dinner, we took the subway back to Times Square.  The subway in New York was not nearly as intimidating as I thought it might be, but I think it helped that Chris and I had experience with DC's metro system, though it is MUCH smaller than New York's.  Walking around Times Square was simply amazing.  It is so full of lights that you would swear it could be day time!  There are also so many street vendors, little restaurants, shops.... and then there are the everyday things like Applebees and the Olive Garden and.... Tim Hortons - still trying to figure out why Canada's (crappy) version of Dunkin' Donuts is in NYC..... not sure.  Here are some pictures from Times Square (unfortunately, the lights are SO bright there that we couldn't get a good shot of the New Year's Eve ball, but we tried):

We left Times Square around 11 that night, caught the bus back to the hotel around 11:30, and I think we were back in our room around midnight.  On Sunday we got up, had breakfast, and got on the road around 10.  It was a very smooth and surprisingly quick ride home.  We made minimal stops, picked up a few groceries, crossed the border, picked up Bailie, and then we could relax being at home again.

Everyone kept asking me how Olive was doing for me during the trip - I guess great!  I never even got overly tired, not even the night we went downtown.  My appetite even stayed in check.  I felt great overall this week, and I am loving feeling this great while it lasts.  I am still anxious to look more pregnant and less like I've just been eating too much, which is how I felt most of this week.... though I'm sure I'll eat those words when I'm 30+ weeks!  I can't believe I'm now 16 weeks and a day.... In less than 2.5 weeks, we will see our baby again, and then about a week and a half later, we'll be to the halfway point!  Everything is coming so quickly - the anatomy scan (which in case anyone's wondering in the back of their minds - NO, we have not changed our mind about not finding out the sex, and even if the tech screws up and tells us, we'll still keep it a secret!), the cruise, Christmas (which I am SO excited for!), and then.... it will really be countdown to baby!

So that was our week!  It is cold and rainy here in lovely Ottawa, and Bailie and I are enjoying being cozy at home.  Its time for me to have some lunch, and then clean up a few things.  I will have a bump picture for you on Wednesday.  Until then! :-)

15 Weeks!

At 15 weeks, according to the baby size tracker that I check, Olive is the size of an orange!  I could so go for an orange right now..... I don't think I really look any different from my last picture, at 13 weeks.  But I've read that some girls don't really start to obviously show much until 20 weeks (which we will be in 5 weeks, I can't believe that, the halfway point is fast approaching!) or later with the first baby!  But that's okay - I'm sure once I'm 30+ weeks, I'll be wishing my belly wasn't so huge!  Here's the highlights:

Size of baby: orange
Maternity clothes: In the above picture, I am wearing the most comfortable thing in the world - maternity jeans!  Oh they are so comfy!  But otherwise, I spent the week in my PJs since I was a bit sick this week.
Movement: I keep putting my hands on my belly, hoping and hoping that I'll start to feel the "flutters" that you feel before major movement (or so I've read), but nothing yet.  I have a feeling Olive is going to be stubborn.
Food cravings: nothing this week.  In fact, I did not have much of an appetite this week from my cold.
What I miss: looking for risque Halloween costumes.... definitely not wearing ANYthing like what I wore last year!
Sleep: I was extra tired this week, but I think that was the cold getting me.  I was taking naps like a first trimester champ this week, and the extra sleep felt so nice, especially since there were a few nights when I didn't sleep well because of congestion
Symptoms: nothing really pregnancy related this week.  Any crumminess I felt this week was definitely from being sick.
Best moment this week: Chris coming home with my long list of requested items on a day that I felt really terrible - especially when I found out that he had to go to 3 different places to find the tea I wanted, when I told him not to worry with it if the grocery store didn't have it, which they didn't, so he had to go to 2 Tim Hortons to buy it - that's love!
What I am looking forward to: our trip this weekend!

Despite being sick this week, it was still a good week.  I'm thankful for every day that I can wake up and say, "Thank you Lord for another day pregnant", even when I'm not feeling well.  And really, I don't think I've been sick since last year in August or September when we lived at the hotel before moving into our house, so I suppose getting sick only once or so a year is pretty good!

On Friday, an old "foster mom" of Bailie's came for a visit.  Her name is Nadine, and she and her son had Bailie for a while before we got her.  She is such a sweet lady who absolutely loved Bailie, and we have kept in touch since adopting her.  It was the first time she had seen her since late July, and we had such a great visit.  Bailie definitely remembered her, and I think she loved seeing her again.  Nadine is also helping us out in a huge way by helping to take care of Bailie for us during our trip this weekend, and also during the cruise in November.  She is definitely a huge blessing!

Yesterday we did pretty much nothing.  Chris watched college football all day, and I napped on the couch.  In the evening, we went to the house of a couple Chris works with for a small get-together since I was feeling so much better.  We had barbecued chicken, ribs, and baked potatoes - yum!

Today is the usual Sunday - Chris will be watching football, and I will be in the kitchen.  I'm baking some pumpkin-shaped cookies and pumpkin scones for the Embassy bake sale tomorrow.... I might have to make a couple extra just for us!  All right, off to the kitchen I go..... we will have lots of pictures from our trip to post next weekend!

We're definitely looking forward to this weekend - on Saturday we're going to a Notre Dame football game with some people Chris works with - I know what you're thinking, isn't Elizabeth bored to death by football?  I think I will enjoy it.  I really don't like watching sports on TV, but I love actually being there, so it should be a good time.  But before that, we're leaving on Thursday to drive down to the New Jersey / New York area and will see the Statue of Liberty on Friday, which neither of us have been to.  I'm really excited for that.  We'll get back home on Sunday afternoon/evening.  The next Friday will be our next doctor's appointment, then its Halloween (I have a totally boring costume this year, definitely not scandalous like last year), then it will almost be cruise time!!  That also means we will get to see Olive again, which we're very much looking forward to.

I have said, and will say many times - I can't believe how quickly time is passing.  Last night I said to Chris, "can you imagine how fast time will go by once we actually have our baby?"  It makes me sad and excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  That's one of the funniest things about pregnancy - how can one thing make you so excited, yet so scared, at the same time?  We've only been looking at baby items here and there.  We don't plan on buying anything until after the new year - which is great because I honestly didn't know that babies "need" so many things beyond food (either from mommy or formula), diapers, cribs, car seats, strollers, and basic clothing..... there is a LOT of stuff out there and I have no idea where to start with figuring out what we actually need, and what we "need."  They say that there will always be those people during your pregnancy who give you tons of unsolicited advice, but I am just putting this out there now - if anyone has any advice when it comes to baby gear - we will take it! - because there are about 10,000+ other items out there that I've never even heard of that apparently babies could "need" (including the most ridiculous baby tub I've ever seen - it is literally a bucket, a $40 bucket, if you want to see it, google "tummy tub").  Yikes!  Deep breaths......

In case you have forgotten where babies come from....

... today I was doing my usual Bump reading, and a girl posted about what a preschooler said regarding where babies come from:  "The mom eats the baby and then it grows inside her belly and then it EXPLODES out her tummy and it is born."  I'm trying to figure out if this sounds more or less pleasant than the "usual" way that babies are born.  Based on the graphic images I've seen in a pamphlet the doctor's office gave me, I'm still on the fence about this.... have my stomach explode, or be ripped in half?  Both sound horrifying.

Also, to let anyone who might have worried (mom and mom), I am feeling SO much better (thank you both for checking in on me daily).  I'm still coughing a bit, but I'm sleeping, I can breathe, and I think my appetite is coming back.  Yesterday Chris and I laughed because I told him that my appetite has been down this week so much that I was back to eating like a normal non-pregnant person... I had ONE breakfast, ONE lunch, two snacks, and one dinner.  That's pretty sparse compared to my last 8 weeks or so.

I'll have a picture to post tomorrow I think.  We'll call it the 14/15 week picture.  Trust me, I don't think there's any difference from last week, but we'll see.  I say that, and maybe I'll "pop" overnight :)

Not happening today....

Sorry people, no bump picture today.  I look and feel like..... well, let's just say lousy.  No way am I taking a picture and looking back on my 14-week bump while I'm wearing Chris's old flannel pants, and also an old gray sweatshirt of his.  I started feeling a head cold coming on Sunday afternoon.  By Monday morning, I was hopeful that it was fleeting, but it was rough yesterday.  If it doesn't get worse, I'm very optimistic that its going to be quick.  I have at least been able to sleep for the most part the past 2 nights, but I canceled my few plans for the day, and here I sit on the couch, and here I shall stay.  Last week was the busiest week that I myself have had in a long time, and that, combined with getting back to the germsville that is the gym.... I think it just all caught up with me, so I am taking it easy.  If it wasn't for this person growing in my belly, I probably would have made myself put on the big-girl pants and go on with my day.  So thanks, Olive, for making me just sit back!

I'm sure I will feel better in a couple of days, no need to worry.  I have a call in to my OB just to make sure I don't need to come and see her, and to find out what I can have while I'm not feeling well, but I'm sure she will say to just get some rest.  So rest I shall....

More baking successes!

The monogram and date decorations on the cake leave something to be desired, but I was just playing with it and really feeling pretty lazy at that point.  My fondant came out more perfectly than I could have hoped, so that was a huge plus.  Fondant is not something I would set out to each much of, even the nice-tasting marshmallow fondanat, but it definitely gives that very smooth, pretty finish.  And we won't taste until after fake Thanksgiving dinner tonight, but the pecan pie at least looks good.  Hopefully it tastes equally good.

This morning I again woke up really wanting a huge fluffy cinnamon roll.  I couldn't sleep this morning because I haven't been feeling well since last night, so I got up and started the long process of homemade cinnamon rolls.  They took about 3 hours start to finish, and I have to say, they were okay, but not the Cinnabon-like roll I was hoping for.  Oh well, just won't use that recipe again.  They will probably be going to Chris's office.  Canada does at least have an actual Cinnabon shop, so maybe it will be a treat sometime soon.

I also had a great confirmation yesterday - how I know that marrying Chris was the right decision.  It has nothing to do with the usual reasons - looks, personality, etc.  Nope, none of these...... After turning the kitchen into the disaster that I ALWAYS turn it into, Chris came in and just started cleaning up for me.  DURING FOOTBALL.  And even though he says its mostly because he was having a bad fantasy game day, I'm considering that irrelevant.  That's how you know you have a good man.  His stress relief is cleaning, and he is willing to clean up AFTER his not-even-that-pregnant wife.  AND that's before I told him that I was feeling lousy.  Good, good day :-)

14 weeks!

At 14 weeks, our baby is about the size of a lemon!  Basically, I have a lemon inside of a grapefruit right now - wow!  Here are this week's highlights:

Size of baby: lemon
Maternity clothes: I've mostly been in leggings this week, though I wore one maternity shirt the other day.  Its really just an extra-long fitted long-sleeve shirt.
Movement: still some time away, but I can't wait
Food cravings: nothing major, but I really wanted a cinnamon roll this morning
What I miss: running.  Anything with impact hurts my lower back.  I have been wearing a sweatshirt this week that has an old mantra on it that says "This Christian race is not a sprint, its a marathon.  So run, that ye may obtain."  I believe its based on a verse in 1 Corinthians, but I have missed being "the runner" this week, especially when I was at the gym this week and there was a girl really going at it on the treadmill.  I told myself, one day that will be you again
Sleep: I've been more tired lately, but I think its because I've been working out, which of course takes more out of you than doing nothing
Symptoms: I have nothing to complain about (unless I'm complaining about chub, which doesn't count).  Really I've been feeling great.
Best moment this week: having everyone LOVE my scones and apple turnovers.  I went to the bathroom as people were just getting into them, and Chris was waiting outside of the auditorium when I got back to brief me on the fact that people LOVED them
What I am looking forward to: fake Thanksgiving, which is tomorrow!  Well, its Columbus Day if you're American, but its Canadian Thanksgiving here tomorrow, which of course we celebrate, just as we did last year, because its an excuse to cook up a special meal

It has been a great week.  My baking was a complete success for Thursday's event, and I was overjoyed at the fact that people really liked my "work."  I spoke with one lady who seemed very interested in hiring me for some other small events, so fingers crossed and praying for that!  I feel like I have found what really makes me happy outside of being a wife and mommy-to-be, both of which are greats things to be, but I have spent the last year here trying to figure out what else I could do that would really make me happy.  I have definitely found it.  Now I just have to wait for other opportunities, and in the meantime, really hone my skills.

Outside of my baking successes this week, we've been off to a great weekend.  Chris had a half day yesterday because its a holiday weekend, so extra time together is always great.  There was a really funny moment one night this week when Chris sat down with his ice cream and Bailie came to see what she might get out of it.  When Chris eats ice cream, he likes to let it sit for a few minutes so he can stir it up.  Bailie had been trying to sniff her way to it, and when he wasn't looking, she just decided she'd have a few licks.  We laughed so hard, made her stop of course, but laughed nonetheless.  Oh Bailie.

Today I have some usual Sunday baking on the agenda.  I decided that I would give real fondant a try, something I've been really intimidated by.  I made a marshmallow fondant yesterday, and today I will roll it out (or at least try) and see how it goes.  If its a success, I'll post a picture soon.  I'm also going to make our pecan pie that is for tomorrow, and I might also make some pumpkin bread.  By the time Christmas is over, I will be so sick of pumpkin, but for now, I am loving the fact that its a staple for fall.  I also can't wait to make our cornish hens tomorrow, which is what we ate last year on fake Thanksgiving.  Last year I made them with a parmesan-garlic crust, but this year I am making maple-glazed hens with bacon dressing..... oh it will be sooooo yummy!

I can't believe we're 14 weeks now.... if Olive moved the right way, an ultrasound tech would be able to make a pretty good guess at gender!  Not that we're finding out of course, but its crazy to think we could actually be saying "he" or "she" almost reliably if we wanted.  We tend to use the words interchangeably right now, but who knows.  It will be the best surprise!  I have been feeling so great this week that I almost feel like my old self.  I really have to stop and remind myself that there's a person in my belly, which still seems so strange to me.  I also feel like I LOOK more like a normal person, which I've heard happens around this time period, and then - bam! - you wake up with your real baby bump one morning, and its not just bloat/fat.  That will be very exciting.

Well, its off to the kitchen for me.  On Tuesday I will post a bump picture for everyone to see.  Happy fake Thanksgiving!

Baking success!

I am all ready to serve up my:

apple turnovers

and:

pumpkin scones

I really enjoyed my baking time yesterday - it was like having a real job because it literally took from 9-5, and I had about 5 minutes to eat my lunch in between!  I have to say, whoever invented the food processor is my new hero.  And having my chef's mat really helped my back.  It only ached a little bit later in the evening, which I could completely handle.  I'm so very pleased with how my treats came out.  The apple turnovers are SO well.  I tweaked the recipe from the first time I made them and could not be happier with how they came out.... the crust is flaky, the filling is a great combo of tart and sweet, and they look pretty!  I am always my own worst critic, so I am just so happy that I can be this pleased with the results of my hard work..... and it doesn't hurt that I'm getting paid a decent amount for my very first, completely amateur, catering job.

The best moment of the day might have been when I picked Chris up from work and he told me that his coworkers wanted to know when they were going to be again reaping the benefits of my baking.... he told them that they might get some scraps since I was working on a real job for the day, to which they asked, "when do we get some scraps?"  I thought this was hilarious.  I wanted Chris to take the 8 extra turnovers I had and let them fight over them, or even better, auction them off to the highest bidder, but he I think he might have feared for his life in that situation.  Oh well.


Mom, I will try to send some to you sometime, and other mom, I promise I will make these in December!

13 Week Photo!

Here it is, as promised!

It's funny, I actually feel like I look smaller at 13 weeks than I did between 10-12.  I think its just that the bloat is going away and I'm settling into a little baby bump.  It probably also helps that I've got the energy to get back into the gym, and I have really been better with keeping my eating on track - though I'm still starving at least every 2 hours!

Ta-da!!!

Here are my delicious creations from yesterday for anyone interested:

For my very first attempt at petit fours (did you know that they are prounced petty-fours?  I had no idea and would have just kept calling them petite fours....I like the sound of that better, oh well), I have to pat myself on the back.  I was reading about the labor involved in making these, but I have to say that I really enjoyed it (I think because I really have no artistic bone in my body, but making things like this has been helping to cultivate that a tiny bit).  I started with a simple cream cheese pound cake.  Once I sliced up the cake into tiny cakes, I spread an almond-raspberry filling inside them.  I then coated them with a poured fondant-like glaze (mine was really very similar to thinned royal icing), and followed that with some squiggles of melted chocolate.  I'm extremely happy with them and will definitely make them again.  Plus, they are delicious!  They got the Chris-Seal-of-Approval, who is always very honest about what he likes in a dessert and doesn't like, so I know they're good.  The raspberry is such a perfect compliment to the pound cake, but the great thing is that really there are endless possibilities as to what kind of flavor combinations could go into these.  I definitely foresee making these during the holidays.

That is all, I really just wanted to show off the results of my getting back into the kitchen yesterday :-)

We're 13 weeks and we are having a peach!

Today is our first day in the teens in our count toward Olive's arrival.  In terms of days, we are at day 91.  We are basically one third of the way there, which I cannot even begin to comprehend.  Just now Chris asked me where to put one of our ultrasound photos and I told him to put it "with the baby stuff."  Baby stuff?!  A year ago we were still unpacking, and now we have a room reserved for baby stuff.  It's amazing how fast a year can go.  The leaves are turning here and it definitely looks like fall now.  Soon there will be no leaves.  Here's our weekly highlights:

Size of baby: peach
Total weight gain/loss: um.... we are actually done discussing this one
Maternity clothes: I broke out the jeans on Friday and oh my gosh they are sooooo comfy!
Movement: from what I've read, as early as 3 more weeks, but more likely to be 5 or more weeks away, so maybe by cruise time, when I'm 18 weeks, Olive will be moving around for us to feel!
Food cravings: chocolate milk - I actually think my appetite is settling just the SLIGHTEST.... I try not to say that too often because I usually jinx myself
What I miss: just my body this week.  I saw a picture from the week before the wedding of me in a bikini and yeah...... I won't be looking like that again for a LONG time
Sleep: good nights and bad nights, I get hot and then I get cold, still have to get up for the bathroom several times
Symptoms: don't really have anything to complain about, though if I eat too big of a meal, the heartburn flares a bit
Best moment this week: seeing Olive again, even though seeing him/her was the result of a little stress, luckily all is GREAT! ... also when Chris said that if anyone ever asks where my baking started, we will show them a picture of our mini fridge, little freezer, and storage shelf, where most of my extra supplies are kept in the basement.  Humble beginnings!
What I am looking forward to: my small catering gig this week and hopefully impressing the right people (I'm making apple turnovers and a family favorite - pumpkin scones!)

We spent Friday 2 hours away in Watertown.  Chris had a dentist appointment and we desperately needed to do some grocery shopping.  I got to pick up some more fun kitchen toys from Bed Bath and Beyond, including a food processor, mini tart pans, and a cookie press, all of which I can't wait to use.  I also picked up a bathing suit, a pair of shorts, and 2 dresses for the cruise, so I am all set now I think.  I'm so excited for the cruise - only about 6 more weeks away!  It will be my first cruise, and I can't wait to order room service just because I can.... it will be great!

Overall, I felt pretty great this week, especially after getting to see Olive moving around on the ultrasound.  I have had a LOT more energy this week, and even got into the gym twice.  I'm so happy to be getting back into that habit.  I'm planning to go 3-4 times a week now.  The 2 times I made it in this past week were so great.  I felt like my old self, even with keeping the workout to 30 minutes and scaled back quite a bit compared to the way I used to work out.  Now I just break a little sweat, whereas I used to come out looking like I showered in my gym clothes.  Gross, but what a glorious feeling!  I really miss running the way you miss a best friend, but I will stick to low-impact to keep my back from hurting.

Since today is Sunday, Chris will be watching football all day of course, which means I think I will spend the day in the kitchen.  I'm really motivated to try making petit fours, something I've never done, but the little cakes are just so pretty, I would love to give it a try.  Plus I haven't baked in weeks.... its time to get back in there!  It will also be a good test for the chef mat I got a couple of weeks ago.  Hopefully it helps ease the back pain I usually get from standing in the kitchen too much.

I will post a bump picture on Tuesday.  For now, it's time to get into the kitchen.  If my little cakes turn out, I'll post a picture of them.